‘Doctor Who’ to name new lead actor on TV Sunday

Yours truly had a great time with two 'Who' staples, Dalek and TARDIS, at the entrance of BBC America's big party.

Yours truly had a great time with two 'Who' staples, Dalek and TARDIS, at the entrance of BBC America's big party.

Photo: Ross Ruediger

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A banner featuring all the Doctors presided over the affair.

A banner featuring all the Doctors presided over the affair.

Photo: Jeanne Jakle

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Getting cozy with a Cyberman.

Getting cozy with a Cyberman.

Photo: Courtesy

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Menacing 'Who' aliens Ood and Cybermen descended upon TV critics at the party.

Menacing 'Who' aliens Ood and Cybermen descended upon TV critics at the party.

Photo: Jeanne Jakle

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Matt Smith's original 'Who' costume with trademark bow tie was one of many outfits on display.

Matt Smith's original 'Who' costume with trademark bow tie was one of many outfits on display.

Photo: Jeanne Jakle

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Jenna Coleman wore this costume in first 'Doctor Who'
story of Season 7.

Jenna Coleman wore this costume in first 'Doctor Who'
story of Season 7.

Photo: Ross Ruediger

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The distinctive scarf worn by Tom Baker's fourth Doctor.

The distinctive scarf worn by Tom Baker's fourth Doctor.

Photo: Ross Ruediger

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A recreation of the suit worn by first Doctor William Hartnell that will be seen on David Bradley in the upcoming movie "An Adventure in Space and Time."

A recreation of the suit worn by first Doctor William Hartnell that will be seen on David Bradley in the upcoming movie "An Adventure in Space and Time."

Photo: Ross Ruediger

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Matt Smith's face was prominentlly on display throughout the party.

Matt Smith's face was prominentlly on display throughout the party.

Photo: Ross Ruediger

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Jenna Coleman will continue on as a companion even after Matt Smith departs this Christmas.

Jenna Coleman will continue on as a companion even after Matt Smith departs this Christmas.

Photo: Ross Ruediger

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David Bradley channels William Hartnell in Friday's original movie "An Adventure in Space and Time" on BBC America

David Bradley channels William Hartnell in Friday's original movie "An Adventure in Space and Time" on BBC America

Photo: Hal Shinnie / BBC/BBC Worldwide

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Matt Smith really rocks that bow tie.

Matt Smith really rocks that bow tie.

Photo: BBC

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JOHN HURT as The Doctor, MATT SMITH as the Eleventh Doctor and DAVID TENNANT as the Tenth Doctor in the 50th Anniversary Special - The Day of the Doctor.

JOHN HURT as The Doctor, MATT SMITH as the Eleventh Doctor and DAVID TENNANT as the Tenth Doctor in the 50th Anniversary Special - The Day of the Doctor.

Photo: SCREENGRAB / BBC/BBC WORLDWIDE

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BILLIE PIPER as Rose Tyler in Saturday's 50th Anniversary Special - The Day of the Doctor

BILLIE PIPER as Rose Tyler in Saturday's 50th Anniversary Special - The Day of the Doctor

Photo: screengrabs / BBC/BBC WORLDWIDE

'Doctor Who' to name new lead actor on TV Sunday

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One of the most hotly anticipated announcements of the TV world will be made during an unprecedented special Sunday: Who will succeed Matt Smith to become the 12th time-traveling Doctor on “Doctor Who”?

The news will be broadcast live at 1 p.m. Sunday within a half-hour broadcast on BBC America. The actor playing the new Doctor will be interviewed. Will the successor be a fresh face or an established star? Young, middle-aged, old, a woman?

Meanwhile, the extremely popular Smith will be seen as the Doctor for the last time on the “Who” Christmas Special Dec. 25. At the end, he’ll regenerate and become the new Doctor, played by the actor who’ll be revealed on Sunday.

Prior to that, Smith will be part of the big 50th Anniversary special, alongside former “Doctor Who” staples David Tennant and Billie Piper, to be telecast on Nov. 23 on BBC America.

At a press session in Beverly Hills last week, Smith sounded wistful – and a little uncertain — about vacating easily the most prominent role of his career.

“It’s, like, the closest you’ll ever get to being a rock star, I think,” he said at the Television Critics’ Association.

Smith, who’s inhabited the role for four years, said of his leaving: “It’s a good time for me and for the show. But I’ve had a great time. I’ll miss it, and it was a hard choice. It wasn’t an easy choice to make.

“I have pondered it on several occasions,” he added, “and I ponder it and think, ‘I’ve made a huge mistake. What am I doing? Don’t leave.’ ”

At a grand “Doctor Who” party held for TV critics at Soho House in West Hollywood – that was full of “Who” figures, including a Dalek, an Ood and two Cybermen — Smith and his co-star Jenna Coleman, his current companion on the show, looked more merry than melancholy. They also were amazingly adept at avoiding interviews with TV writers…at least about anything serious, such as the show or Smith’s upcoming movie from Ryan Gosling, “How to Make a Monster.”

One thing he would talk about, when I approached him, was his love for wild and colorful socks. Check out the striped pair (in photo) that he wore at his BBC America press conference.